Apparatus for gauging tapered workpieces



Dec. 6, 1949 F. L. RUPLEY APPARATUS FOR GAUGING TAPERED WORKPIECES 4Sheets-Sheet l INVENTOR FREDERICK L. RUPLEY Filed March 27, 1947ATTORNEYS F. L. RUPLEY Dec. 6, 1949 APPARATUS FOR GAUGING 'TAPEREDWORKPIECES Filed March 27, 1947 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR FREDERICK L.RUPLEY Dec. 6, 1949 F. L. RUPLEY 2,490,376

APPARATUS FOR GAUGING TAPERED WORKPIECES Filed March 27, 1947 4Sheets-Sheet s ATTO R N EYS m m f -m m 7 m ML K o C ma W I. D \m W Z x jw Patented Dec. 6, 1949 I Frederick L. Rupley, Cincinnati, Ohio,assignor to Men Engineering Company, Indianapolis, Incl,

a corporation of In Application March 27, 1947, Serial No. 787,508

This invention relates to gauging methods and apparatus and particularlyto a method and apparatus for gauging tapered workpieces.

The gauging of tapered members such as drill shanks, tapered adapters,tapered reamers. etc., is ordinarily accomplished by attempting a directmeasurement of the angle thereof. Such a measurement is difiicult tomake with accuracy and speed and is thus not applicable to productionprocesses. Also, the usual arrangement for measuring tapers measuresonly the angle of the side of the taper, or the included angle betweenthe sides thereof, and does not give an indication as to whether theworkpiece is perfectly round.

The primary object of the present invention is to provide an improvedmethod and apparatus for gauging tapered work members which is quick,accurate and readily adaptable for production inliecting.

A still further object of the present invention is to provide incombination with a gauge according to the foregoing object an auxiliarygauging device which is operable to measure the eccentricity of theworkpiece.

Still another object is to provide an improved method and apparatus forgauging both the de- Iree of taper and the eccentricity of the taperedwork member and without the necessity of making precise measurements ofthe taper angle di- A still further object is the provision of a gaugingdevice for gauging tapers which is operated by compressed air.

Another object is the provision of a method and apparatus for gaugingtapered work members such that the range of the gauge can easilybemodifled.

These and other objects and advantages will become more apparent uponreference to the following description taken in connection with theaccompanying drawings in which:

Figure 1 is a plan view of the gauging mechanism according to thisinvention;

Figure 2 is a vertical longitudinal section indicatcd by the line 2-2 onFigure 1;

Figure 3 is a transverse section indicated by the line 33 on Figure 1;

Figure 4 is an enlarged sectional view showing the portion of the airgauge which is influenced by the taper angle 2 Claims. (CL 33- l74l'Figure 5 is a plan section indicated by the line -l- -5 on Figure 3and'showing .the masters which accompany the gauge;

Figure 6 is a plan section indicated by the line 0-8 on Figure 3 andshowing the portion of the air gauge which measures the eccentricity ofthe work member;

Figure 7 is a view of the taper gauging portion of the device with aworkpiece inserted and being gauged:

Figure 8 is an enlarged view of the orifice varying member of the tapergauge part of the device:

Figure 9 is a fragmentary view showing an inversion of the taper gaugingpart of the gauge modified for use with tapered holes or recesses;

Figure 10 is a fragmentary view similar to Figure 4 but showing thegauging port opening directly into the atmosphere and the port varyingmember located externally therefrom;

Figure 11 is a fragmentary view-of a modified form of ring mounting inwhich the rings are anti-frictionally mounted for rotation with thetapered pin engaging the work between the two rings; and

Figure 12 is a view of an aperture plate and tapered pin constructionwhich has given very satisfactory results in actual tests.

According to this invention tapered work members are gauged as to thedegree of taper thereon by engaging the work member by a pair of spacedrings of different diameters. One of the rings is movable relative tothe other by the workpiece being gauged, and the movement thereof isutilized for varying the air flow from an air gauge 'which is responsiveto changes in flow therethrough for indicating workpiece sizes.

Simultaneously with the gauging operation described above, there is anauxiliary gauging member which bears on the periphery of the workpiecebeing gauged at the point where it is' engaged by one of the rings.Then, when the workpiece is rotated while in engagement with the rings,the last mentioned gauging element is actuated and indicates, throughanother air gauge, the degree of eccentricity or out of roundness or theworkpiece.

An inversion of the taper measuring portion of the gauge may be had byproviding annular members instead of open rings, and inserting the saidannular members into a tapered hole or recess. In the same manner as inconnection with the tapered workpiece, the annular rings engage thesurface of the tapered hole and are moved relatively thereby, thisrelative movement serving .to actuate an orifice varying gauging memberwhich, through an air gauge, results in an indication of the degree .oftaper of the hole being measured.

Referring to the drawings and particularly to Figures 1 through 7thereof a gauge according to this invention comprises a gauging headgenerally indicated at I to which is connected the indicating air gaugemechanisms I2 and I4. The air gauge at I2 indicates the degree of taperof the workpiece being measured while the gauge at I4 indicated the outof roundness or eccentricity thereof.

The head I0 consists of a base member is on which is mounted a block orbody portion I8. The upper end of the block is is bored as at and thereis mounted on the upper surface thereof the ring 22. The ring 22 has anaccurately machined aperture 24 therein which is defined by theintersecting conical recesses 26 and 20. The ring 22 also has adepending boss 30 thereon which closely fits within the bore 20 of thebody I 8. The ring 22 is preferably tightly held in position on the bodyI0 as by a plurality of screws 32.

Also positioned within the bore 20 is a part 34 substantially T-shapedin vertical cross-section and having a projecting rod portion 36 thereonwhich slidably fits within a bore 20 in the body l0. The upper end ofthe member 34 is enlarged and has a counterbore 40. Mounted on the upperface of the member 34 and somewhat overlying the counterbore 40 is asecond ring 42 which is secured to the said member 24 as by the screws44 and which hasits inner surface arcuately shaped.

The body It is also bored upwardly from the bottom as at 40 and securedwithin the recess 46 is a block 48. The block 44 has a passagetherethrough which opens through the side of the block as at 50 andthrough the top of the block as through the threaded recess 02. Therecess 02 is shouldered, and resting on the bottom thereof is an orificeplate 00 having the orifice 58 therein. A gasket may be provided betweenthe orifice plate and the bottom of the recess 52 to prevent the escapeof air therearound during the operation of the gauge.

The plate 56 is held in position and clamped against the gasket 60 bythe hollow plug 62 which threads into the recess 52 and which iscentrally axially bored as at 64. Preferably, the lower end of the plug02 has an annular ledge 60 thereon which encloses the plate 00 andthereby aligns the orifice 50 thereof with thyaxis of the bore 04.

Slidabiy mounted in the bore 64 is a slide block 00 which is flutedalong the sides as at 10 to permit the passage of air therearound.Carried in the upper end of the slide block 60 is a pointed member I2and in the lower end thereof there is a tapered pin I4. The tapered pinextends through the port 50 and is adapted for variably restricting thesaid port as the slide block is reciprocated in the bore 04.

As best seen in Figure 8, the tapered pin 14 comprises a tapered'endportion It the sides of which are arcuately shaped so that therestricting of the port 50 is varied in a predetermined manner inresponse to predetermined axial movements therein of the pin I4. Bymeans of the shape of the portion I0 of the pin I4, the charac- 4teristics of the scale of the indicating portion of the air gauge can becontrolled.

The bore 20 is connected with the bore 40 by an intermediate portion IIwhich is vented to the atmosphere by the cross drill 00 so thatsirescaping from the orifice l0 and around the metering pin I4 canfreely pass to the atmosphere.

The pointed member I2 is normally in engagement with an elongated screw02 which passes through the rod part 24 of the member 24. The screw 02is adjustable in the rod part It and is adapted for being locked in anyposition of adjustment by the set screw 04.

The assembly of the member 24, ring 42 and screw 02 is continuouslyurged upwardly into its Figure 2 position and against the lower surfaceof the ring 22 by a compression spring 06 which bears between the lowerend of the rod portion 20 and the upper surface of the plug 02.Similarly, the slide block 60 and the pointer member 12 and the meteringpin I4 carried thereby are continuously urged upwardly into engagementwith the lower surface of the screw s: and into a position of minimumrestriction of the orifice 58 by a compressing spring 00 bearing betweenthe lower surface of the slide block and the upper surface of the plateIt.

Fluid under pressure is supplied to the block 40 by the conduit soleading from the air gauge I2. The conduit so communicates directly withthe indicating gauge 94 and thereafter through a master orifice ofexactly predetermined diameter with a chamber 00. The chamber ll issupplied with compressed air from a supply line I00 and through aplurality of serially arranged throttling orifices I02. The chamber 00is also variably connected with the atmosphere by the Bourdon tube I04which has a port I06 in the end thereof and into which extends a taperedmeter. ing pin I00.

As the tube I04 yields due to an increase in pressure therein, theeffective size of the port I06 is increased due to the withdrawal of thetapered pin therefrom and the exhausting of air to the atmosphereincreases. Together with the throttling orifices I02 and a controlledline pressure, the pressure in the chamber 00 is predetermined to withinvery close limits. This results in a predetermined rate of flow throughthe master orifice st, and through the orifice 58 to the atmosphere.Thus, when the metering pin 14 is moved to restrict the orifice 00, thisis immediately reflected as an indication on the indicating instruments4.

Referring to Figures 3 and 6, it will be seen that the ring 22 islaterally bored as at IIII to receive a reciprocable gauging element H2,the end of which toward the aperture 24 of the ring '22 preferably istipped with a wear resistant element such as the ruby indicated at H4.The other end of the element H2 is flanged as at I I6 and has its endIII extending through a thin plate or strip I20. Between the plate I20and the flange H6 there bears a spring I22 which continuously urges thegauging element II2 toward the right. Spaced from the end 8 of theelement H2 is a port I24 adapted for being variably restricted by thesaid end when the element H2 is moved.

Normally, the right end of the element H2 extends into the aperture 24so that when a workpiece to be gauged is inserted into the aperture, thegauging member H2 is moved leftwardly to give a predeterminedrestriction of the port I24.

I This is reflected in a predetermined reading on of adjusting the airgauge I4.

Operation In operation, the proper setting of the air gauge I2 isdetermined by selecting one o! the master or standard tapers I30 or I32which may be conveniently located in recesses in the block I0. One ofthese standards represents the high limit of the workpieces to bemeasured and the other thereof represents the low limit. On one of thestandards there is a flat as indicated at I34 on the standard I30 andthis flat is for the purpose The gauge is set up by means of thestandards and, thereafter, workpieces which are placed in the gauge as,for example, the workpiece I36 in Figure 7, will substantiallyimmediately be gauged as to degree of taper and the indication on thedial 94 will determine whether or not the workpiece is acceptable.

By rotating the workpiece I36 while it is in its Figure 7 position, theair gauge I4 will be actuated through movement of the gauging anember H2and the amount that the workpiece is out of round or the size of anyflats or imperfections therein will be indicated by the dial of theinstrument I26 associated with the gauge I4.

The range of the instrument can be changed at any time by replacing oneor both of the rings 22 and 42 and by replacing the standards by otherstandards having the proper diameter and degree of taper.

' I64 has secured thereto, as by shrinking or other As mentionedpreviously, this instrument may be inverted for the purpose of gaugingtapered recesses and an arrangement of this type is shown in Figure 9.In Figure 9 there is a tapered recess I40 in a workpiece I42 and agauging head generally indicated at I44 as being employed for measuringthe taper angle of the recess. The

gauge head comprises a larger annular ring at I46 which is carried onthe tube I48, and the smaller annular ring I50 which is slidably carriedon the said tubing and in advance of the ring I46. A compression springI52 continuously urges the rings apart and extending through the tubeI48 is a pin I54 which is fastened to the ring I50. The pin I54 abuts oris connected with a slide block I56 which carries a tapered pin I50 thatextends through the orifice plate I60.

The chamber through which the pin I58 passes is vented as at I62 toexhaust the air discharged through the orifice plate I to theatmosphere. A spring I64 may be employed, if desired, for continuouslyurging the slide block I56 against the pin I54 if the said pin and blockare not otherwise secured together.

It will be evident that the operation of the modification shown inFigure 9 is substantially identical with that of the external tapergauge and that the air gauge mechanism which would be connected with thetube I48 could be identical with either the gauge I2 or I4.

Figure 10 illustrates a modified form of' the invention which eliminatesthe tapered pin 14 and aperture plate 56. As shown, the air fiow fromtube 90a is restricted at the gauging button I0. by spring plate I10,which in turn is actuated by vertical movement of the elongated screw82.

In Figure 11 the ring I80 is mounted for rotation on the anti-frictionbearing I82. Ring means, the inner race ill of the tapered bearing Ill.The other race of the said'bearing is secured in the T-shaped memberI80, the remaining structure and function of which is the same as themember 04 of Figure '7.

Located substantially mid-way between rings I00 and I04 is the gaugingfinger I92, spring held against the workpiece I64 and adapted to varythe iiow of air through the aperture plate I96. Pipe I00 communicateswith the gauge I4 and it will be apparent that upon rotation of theworkpiece any flats or imperfections which would result in variations inthe respective positions of the members I62 and I66 will be indicated onthe dial I20.

Referring to Figure 12, it has been found through extensive tests thatthe dimensional arrangement between the aperture plate I66 and the flowcontrolling element I94 produces very satisfactory results. As shown,the point 200 is ground to an angle of approximately 40 to cooperatewith a counterbore202 at an angle of 60.

From the foregoing it will be seen that the present invention providesfor an accurate and rapid means for determining all of the essentialcharacteristics of a tapered work member whether internal or external,and that the device is relatively simple and rugged in construction,thereby adapting it to inspection processes in shops and factories.

It will be understood that this invention is susceptible to modificationin order to adopt it to different usages and conditions and,accordingly, it is desired to comprehend such modifications within thisinvention as may fall within the sec of the appended claims.

I claim:

1. In a gauge for measuring outside tapers; a pair of rings of diflerentdiameters in axial alignment; means urging said rings toward each otherwhereby their inner edges define a wide angle taper; and meansresponsive to separating movements of said rings by the engagement ofboth thereof by a w rkpiece having a smaller angle taper when int needthrough the larger of the rings for indicating the degree of taper ofthe workpiece, said last named means including a body and a bore in saidbody, said bore being in axial alignment with a work piece when the sameis in measuring position, an air conduit extending to said body, agasket, a hollow plug having a central bore, an orifice plate having anorifice therein, a pin extending into said orifice, said plug having aledge, a plate enclosed by said ledge to thereby align the orifice withthe bore of the hollow plug, and an elongated member extending into saidfirst named bore and adapted to actuate said pin and gasket.

2. In a gauge for measuring outside diameters; a fixed larger ring; asmaller movable ring in axial alignment with said larger ring; meansurging said rings toward each other whereby their inner edges define awide angle taper; and means responsive to separating movements of saidrings by the engagement of both thereof by a, workpiece having a smallerangle taper when introduced through the larger of the rings forindicating the degree of taper of the workpiece, said last named meansincluding a body and a bore in said body, said bore being in axialalignment with a workpiece when the same is in measuring position, anair conduit extending to said body, a gasket, a hollow plug having acentral bore, an orifice plate having an orifice therein, a pinextending into said orifice, said plug having a come -1 3 ledge. a plateenclosed by sold led to thereby Number -Name Date align the orifice withthe bore of the hollow plui. 1,472,195 Schlaupltz Oct. 30, 1923 and anelongated mcmberextendlng into said 1,843,244 Blood June 23, 1925 firstnamed bore and adopted to octulte laid pin 1,602,645 Buckingham Oct. 12,1928 and gasket. 5 2,011,931 Dreyer Aug. 20, 1938 FREDERICK L. RUPLIY.2,370,220 Aller Feb.- 27, 1945 2,374,154 Moore Apr. 17, 1945 REFERENCESCITED 2,397,494 xllppersmith Apr. 2, 1948 2,405,648 Gray Aug. 13, 1946The following references are of record 111 the 10 3 417 143 wright Man 11947 file of this patent:

UNITED STATES, PATENTS Number Name 785,739 Kettnlch M81. 3 19, 5 15OTHER REFERENCES ProductEnan. pp. 96-97, Jan. 1947.

